As a loving tribute to his father, Eric Fischer created a unique motorcycle that details Reg Fischer's accomplishments during World War II.
Chief Petty Officer Fischer served in the Pacific as a crewman — machine gunner and torpedo man — on a TBM Avenger in a unit that had an average of six minutes of combat survival. One of few crews who survived the dangerous bombing missions aimed at the Japanese Navy, he helped sink a ship in a daring, low-altitude run.
A mural of this run decorates the left side of the bike, with vivid detail right down to the rivets on the plane. The right side of the bike shows the USS Bismark Sea, the small carrier from which the Avengers were catapulted on their runs.
The bike's front fender depicts the medals earned, including the Navy Distinguished Flying Cross, and the back fender features a depiction of the Air Squadron logo.
Eric worked to surprise his father with the completed bike two years ago on Father's Day, stunning Reg with the accuracy of the paintings and the love and honor shown by his son. With help from his mom, Eric conducted extensive research to ensure that the murals were accurate, searching documents and archived photographs online and also photographing his dad's medals on the sly.
"It really hit me, hit me pretty hard," said Reg, who never discussed his World War II experiences. "It's really nice."
A salesman with Classic Motor Sports, Eric was on a waiting list for four years before he took delivery of the Heritage Springer model. He had connected with an artist who took a special interest in the project because his uncle had served in the Pacific during World War II.
The bike publicly debuted on the Fourth of July in 2004 during the last parade in Traverse City, riding with 30 other members of the Northern Chapter of the Harley Owners Group. He worked furiously until four in the morning that day to get the bike completely ready.
"There wasn't a dry eye in the place," recalled Eric.
Reg Fischer survived more than his share of peril during his duty in the Pacific. In February of 1945 during the battle of Iwo Jima and on his 21st birthday, two Japanese kamikaze pilots sunk the USS Bismark Sea. Ships ran with their lights out in the Pacific to avoid detection. The first kamikaze simply got lucky and the resulting blaze directed the second plane in; the ship sunk within 40 minutes.
Survivors of the wreck floated in shark-infested waters for five hours before being rescued. Reg organized men around him to put three severely wounded sailors on a life raft while 20 others clung to the sides. As sharks picked men off one by one, others began to panic. They tried climbing in to the raft, which threatened to swamp it. Reg drew his sidearm and threatened to shoot anyone who climbed, saving the sailors on the raft as well as those in the sea.
"After we jumped off the ship, we were strafed by the Japanese," said Reg, noting that 318 survived out of a crew of 1,100. "We had two destroyer escorts and they were supposed to run without lights; the skippers of those boats said, 'The hell with that,' and turned on their big search lights so they could scan the water for survivors."
The tribute Harley was the toast of a reunion of USS Bismark Sea survivors during a Las Vegas gathering in October 2004. The 38 men still alive, like Reg now in their 80s, where thrilled when Eric brought the bike up to their fifth floor meeting room. The pair are considering taking the bike to another reunion this September in Louisiana.
"They all wanted to sit on the bike, it really made their day," said Reg, who served in the Naval Reserve after World War II and flew as a flight engineer until he was 55, logging about 42 years of service in all.
The love of Harley-Davidsons is in Fischer blood: Reg's first bike was a 1929 Harley he bought for $35, which he rode for years before the war. His son has been riding motorcycles for decades and got into Harleys 15 years ago.
"Bikes have been in the family for a long time," said Eric.